When the knowledge of Christian Science came to me, I was feeling that the difficulties of life were too great. I seemed to have more troubles than anybody I knew. Some of the members of my family were so-called incurable invalids, suffering from an inherited illness, of which I myself was very much afraid. I was also much depressed by the thought of financial difficulties, from which there seemed to be no way of escape; so that the outlook for me was quite hopeless. The commonly accepted religious and medical beliefs were inadequate, as remedies for my troubles. I suffered much from depression and some other minor troubles.
When the knowledge of Christian Science came to me, I had been told by the doctor to wear glasses when reading, on account of bad headaches, from which I suffered much. I had treatment from a kind Christian Science practitioner; the headaches stopped, and I sold my glasses. I used to get run down, have sties on my eyes, and suffer from anæmia. All these troubles stopped; and many others, such as constipation, gout, and neurasthenia, disappeared as I got to know more and more of this wonderful Science. I also found a way out of my financial difficulties, which had seemed to me so overwhelming.
I now understand that what I thought I was suffering from was unreal. Substance and man are not material, but spiritual. There are no inherited troubles; the belief in condemnation and God-bestowed punishment is untrue. God knows nothing about evil, and so cannot punish it. Our troubles and illnesses are erring beliefs. These beliefs cannot be disposed of by thinking of evil as of something which must be got rid of, but by the activity of right ideas. I cannot say how very grateful I am for this knowledge, which enables me to be really happy, and to know for others, as well as for myself, that the thought of suffering is entirely one of mortal mind. The only thing that God does is to bless; and the only thing that man, as the reflection of God, experiences is blessing.— Edinburgh, Scotland.
